Murray Royal decision boosts City Hall rebels' case

Aug 9 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

CAMPAIGNERS seeking to save Perth City Hall yesterday took heart from a Historic Scotland decision to protect two under-threat listed properties.

On Friday, the PA revealed a dramatic Scottish Government intervention had thrown a lifeline to two historic arts and crafts style properties earmarked for demolition in Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital grounds.

They had been targeted by the bulldozers in a £77 million project taking shape on the lower slopes of Kinnoull Hill.

But the C-listed former Elcho and Birnam wards’ close links to a B-listed century-old chapel have spared them – and the developers may now have to tweak their plans for that part of the development.

The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals recommended refusal of the clearance bid and it was supported by Holyrood ministers.

It was felt no attempt had been made to retain the listed buildings, which flies in the face of current policy.

Now James Provan, the one-time Euro MP who heads-up the Perth City Centre Campaign aimed at preserving the front section of Perth City Hall as an alternative to Perth and Kinross Council’s preferred option to clear the building to create a civic square, believes the Murray Royal decision could work in their favour.

Penning his objection to the local authority’s plans, the Glenfarg businessman said: “The council have not been prepared to consult with those who take an alternative view, or accept a compromise, and could be heading into a long delay of their own making.

“They state speed is of the essence in coming to a conclusion but they have allowed the City Hall building to stand empty and unused for five years – presumably to try and fulfil one of Historic Scotland’s criteria and claim there is no viable alternative use.

“In recent days we have seen the result of an application for the demolition of two ‘C’ listed buildings at Murray Royal Hospital.

“In that case a Reporter was appointed and an inquiry was conducted, with Historic Scotland, the applicants, and the council making their separate submissions.

“The Reporter made a decision which was subsequently endorsed by Ministers. I find this example to be encouraging.

“The planning issues have much in common with the City Hall case. The applicants used, unsuccessfully, arguments similar to those being advanced by PKC for the City Hall – specifically, that demolition would enhance the setting of another building, that they could not identify alternative uses and that it would ‘deliver significant benefits to the local community.’

“In addition, the Reporter clearly stated ‘that no listed building should be demolished unless it can be clearly demonstrated that every effort has been made to retain it.’

“This procedure is of great importance as the council are currently acting as judge and jury in the City Hall case, as the owners of the building for which they have no use, and for which they have no vision of any future use which could be for Perth’s overall economic benefit.

“There are many alternative scenarios available.”

Mr Provan and the PCCC were lambasted by Perth MP Pete Wishart in Friday’s PA for “favouring a most ridiculous solution” to the City Hall problem with their “incessant mutterings”.

But, undaunted by the flak, Mr Provan yesterday insisted the council’s blueprint does not meet the “challenges, aims or aspirations facing the City of Perth” to create a square with the grandeur required to rival the best of British.

He added: “The conclusions reached are based purely on the consultants’ economic report without any aesthetic, architectural, conservation, historic and heritage considerations being recognised or even considered.

“Complete demolition would be a serious mistake, and although I share the ambition of creating a civic square that would provide Perth with a central open square, the council proposal does not provide a fully flexible flat surface to maximise the potential usage.”

“The total demolition of the City Halls and the creation of an open space on its own will not create a focused city centre.

“The City Hall is at the very heart of Perth and the council must accept its legal responsibilities as the custodian of our listed buildings, our history and heritage.

“The design of the building was the winner of a highly significant national architectural competition, adjudicated by the foremost architect of the period, and is therefore a very important statement in the history of Edwardian Scotland, and Perth in particular as its former capital city.”